Dixie Cafe to close for good ThursdayDixie Cafe in Russellville will close its doors for good on Thursday according to a press release from the company. Dixie Restaurants Inc., a Little Rock based restaurant company will close all 17 of its Dixie Cafe and Delta Cafe restaurants located in Arkansas, Oklahoma and Tennessee, the release said. "After over 35 years in the business, we have decided that we must close our restaurants," said Allan Roberts, CEO of the company. "It's a ver...

'Deck the Halls'The Pope County Library hosted its “Deck the Halls” party on Thursday afternoon. Participants young and old took part in arts and crafts activities, decorating the library’s Christmas tree and enjoyed refreshments during live musical entertainment.

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THE COURIER / Emily SraderThe Courier Your Messenger For The River Valley

City says leaving leaves in curbs is a no-noRussellville Public Works Director Kurt Jones says leaves and debris can pose a real drainage problem when they aren't disposed of properly. "We want to remind people they aren't supposed to blow their leaves into the street," he said. "Or into drainage ditches." Jones said streets in Russellville, particularly the curbed streets, are part of the city's drainage system. "Water is collected off those streets by curb inlets, and a lot of leaves ...

Coats' food totesTrevor Coats has the same problems setting up Christmas lights for his Lights on 17th Street display many of us face each year -- the strands are tangled or the bulbs don't work. The difference, though, is Coats has more than 10,000 lights to sort through and spends about a week setting them up. "Usually, if a strand isn't working, I'll just go buy a whole new strand," he said. "But other times I'll have to go through and check each bulb one a...

Weaver reflects on dynamic seasonFirst-year head coach Jeff Weaver is proud of the season his Cyclones put together in 2017. Russellville finished 6-6 after winning the Class 6A state championship in 2016, but Weaver said the team showed a lot of maturity amid a myriad of changes. Russellville adjusted to a new coaching staff, new offense and new defense on its way to a third straight season with at least one playoff win. And really, when you look at it, the record was just a...

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BY TRAVIS SIMPSONsimpson@couriernews.comThe Courier Your Messenger For The River Valley

Man allegedly beat, threatened womanPolice say Stancy C. Westbrook, 43, slammed and choked a woman and slammed her head on the ground several times after accusing her of infidelity. According to a police report, officers responded to the 2700 block of West 12th Street in reference to a disturbance. When officers arrived, the victim told police she and Westbrook had been arguing. Westbrook allegedly accused her of cheating and began to choke her, slamming her head on the floor se...

Yell's quorum court appoints new memberDANVILLE -- The Yell County Quorum Court met during their monthly meeting in October and appropriated funds to the County Jail and appointed a member to the Universal Housing and Development board. During the meeting, Justices approved Appropriation Ordinance 2017-11. The ordinance entailed transferring $130,000 from the county general fund to the county jail fund. According to Sheriff Bill Gilkey, the need for the transfer was from a few reas...

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Courier staff reportsThe Courier Your Messenger For The River Valley

ASP seizes $17k in pot on interstateArkansas State Police recovered an estimated $17,920 in marijuana during a traffic stop on U.S. Interstate 40 at approximately 8:41 p.m. on Sunday. Raymond L. Moore, 35, and Latonja R. Cooley, 39, were arrested after police stopped the vehicle near the 80 eastbound mile-marker. The driver, Moore, who was out on parole and on probation, gave police permission to search the vehicle after officers observed both suspects were unusually nervous. A ...

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BY TRAVIS SIMPSON
simpson@couriernews.comThe Courier Your Messenger For The River Valley

City clerk retires, will remain employeeCity Clerk Kathy Collins said the recent push by the Russellville City Council to clarify and separate her duties as clerk versus her position as administrative assistant to Brain Holstein influenced her decision to announce her retirement on Wednesday. Collins, who has been the City Clerk for 16 years, declined to elaborate and added it wasn't her primary reason for retiring. "It's something I've been thinking about for a while," she said. "I...

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BY TRAVIS SIMPSON
simpson@couriernews.comThe Courier Your Messenger For The River Valley

Asphalt work begins MondayBeginning Monday, weather permitting, an estimated week-long paving project will take place at the intersection of Highway 64/247/363 including the on-ramps in Pottsville. The contractor will begin milling the old asphalt from U.S. Highway 64 to the Interstate-40 bridge Monday morning and new asphalt will be put down. The project will also include State Highway 363 up to the top of the mountain and through the Atkins area. Commuters are asked ...

Extension office gets new workersThe Pope County Cooperative Extension Service (PCCES) recently gained not one, but two new employees — Porscha Brents and Emily Hawkins. Brents, daughter of Jerry and Holly Brents of Russellville, joined the PCCES on Nov. 1 as the new 4-H program assistant. After graduating from Russellville High School in 2013 she earned a bachelor’s degree in Recreation and Park Administration. “I got into [that degree] because I grew up outside, fishing, ca...

Main Street Mission Christmas Wish List 2017The Main Street Mission has provided this list of available Christmas Wish families for those citizens who would like to adopt a family this holiday season. Adopted One income household. 3 boys ages 12, 9, & 8 Adopted One income household. 1 boy age 5 and 1 girl age 8 Adopted Father is self-employed and work is very slow now. 3 boys ages 10, 3 & 1 Single mom, unemployed since September. 1 girl age 11 and 1 boy age 17 Disabled single mom. 1 ...

Students to sell poinsettiasStudents from the Arkansas Tech University Department of Agriculture will put their fall 2017 semester work on display during a poinsettia sale at the ATU Greenhouses today and Friday. Poinsettias will be available for purchase from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. both days. Proceeds from the sale will be used by the ATU Department of Agriculture to purchase greenhouse plants and supplies. Dr. Jim Collins, horticulturist, is teaching the upper-level floricul...

Aquatic Center updateRussellville Aquatic Center Director T.R. Santos gave a two-page list of updates of center problems and fixes to City Council members during their regular meeting last month. Aldermen met with representatives of Van Horn Construction and ETC Architects and conducted a tour of the $6.63 million aquatic center, which opened in late June. It was the second time council members had toured the facility to look at rust and other problems and how to ...

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BY SEAN INGRAM
sean@couriernews.comThe Courier Your Messenger For The River Valley

Report: Man fired a gun at stopped driverMichael J. Lee, 36, told the court he had no idea there were people near his house when he discharged a weapon from his porch. "No one believes that," District Judge Don Bourne replied on Monday during felony bond hearings inside the Pope County Detention Center. Lee was arrested after officers were dispatched to 2808 West Main Street in reference to a disturbance with a gun. According to the caller, a woman had a flat tire in front of the hom...

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BY TRAVIS SIMPSONsimpson@couriernews.comThe Courier Your Messenger For The River Valley

Pottsville sets a budget datePOTTSVILLE — The Pottsville City Council met Monday and set a date of Dec. 4 immediately after the Planning and Zoning Committee meeting to discuss the 2018 budget. The council members also passed a resolution now required by law recognizing political parties. In other business, the city council passed an ordinance to rezone property located off of the State Highway 247 bypass. The next regular council meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m. on Dec. 18.